Hard Charades Words

Words with nothing to point at: hand the actor the phone, press Play a 1-minute round and watch them think.

Hard Charades Words

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How it works

These hard charades words have no obvious gesture: Modesty, Proofreader, Splitting hairs, Surface tension. All 181 are Hard and clean, with no film or song titles. Press Play a 1-minute round and hand the actor the phone.

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Eight kinds of hard

Press Topic to choose how the room suffers. Ideas with no shape and Actions nobody can see are single thoughts, such as Etiquette and Stalling for time. Words to act in two halves are built to be split: for Pitfall, dig a hole, then drop to the floor. Two things at once are small scenes, such as Icing a cake on a moving train.

A way in for every card

These hard charades ideas come with help. The list under the deck gives an acting hint for each card, so the host can whisper one to an actor who is stuck. If a card still stalls, press Next card and move on.

Tips
  • Difficult charades words get easier in two halves: agree a signal for first half and second half before the round starts.
  • Deal these tough charades words to the confident actors first; a hard card is kinder once the room has seen one solved.

Questions and answers

What are the hardest charades words?

Abstract nouns and actions nobody can see, because there is nothing to point at: Intuition, Hospitality, Second-guessing yourself. In this deck they sit under Ideas with no shape and Actions nobody can see, 54 cards in all.

How do you act out a saying?

Act the picture the words paint, not what the saying means. For Splitting hairs, hold up one hair and saw it carefully in half. The guessers must say the saying itself. Idioms and sayings has 30, each with a hint in the list.

Are these too hard for children?

For young children, yes. Every card is clean, so they can watch, but words such as Etiquette and Notary are beyond most young guessers. The charades generator for kids starts with one-word cards.

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All 181 hard charades words

Ideas with no shape 23

  • A close call Step back just as something falls where you stood.
  • A fresh start Wipe the board clean and square your shoulders.
  • A happy accident Trip, spill the paint, and admire the result.
  • A hidden agenda Show one paper and keep another behind your back.
  • A lucky guess Eyes shut, point, open them and look astonished.
  • An acquired taste Sip, grimace, sip again, slowly start to nod.
  • Beginner's nerves Shake at the knees before the very first try.
  • Benefit of the doubt Frown at someone, weigh it up, wave them through.
  • Etiquette Little finger out, napkin on lap, elbows off the table.
  • Fair play Help an opponent up and shake hands.
  • Home advantage Walk to the same spot you always use and relax.
  • Homesickness Unpack a photo of a house and hug it.
  • Hospitality Open the door wide, take a coat, pull out a chair.
  • Intuition Close your eyes, touch your stomach, point the way.
  • Loyalty Follow one step behind, through rain and wind.
  • Modesty Wave away the applause and hide behind a hand.
  • Muscle memory Eyes closed, hands still tie the knot perfectly.
  • Poetic justice Set a trap, walk around, step in it yourself.
  • Popularity Wave to a growing crowd and sign autographs.
  • Responsibility Take a heavy load onto your shoulders and nod.
  • Selective hearing Hear nothing at all until someone says cake.
  • Stubbornness Plant your feet and lean back against every pull.
  • Wishful thinking Blow out a candle with your fingers crossed.

Actions nobody can see 31

  • Agreeing to disagree Shake heads at each other, shrug, shake hands.
  • Changing your mind Walk one way, stop, turn and walk back.
  • Doing mental arithmetic Eyes up, fingers twitching, lips moving on numbers.
  • Doubting One eyebrow up, arms folded, a slow head shake.
  • Dropping a hint Cough, glance at the thing, cough louder.
  • Faking a smile Hold a wide grin that never reaches your eyes.
  • Getting the joke late Sit blank, then laugh long after everyone has stopped.
  • Holding a grudge Arms crossed, turn away, refuse the offered hand.
  • Jumping to conclusions See one clue, gasp, and leap to the far side.
  • Keeping a secret Zip your lips, lock them, pocket the key.
  • Keeping a straight face Lips pressed, shoulders shaking, eyes watering.
  • Letting it go Open your hand and watch it float away.
  • Losing count Count on your fingers, get distracted, start over.
  • Playing it cool Lean on a wall that is not there and nearly fall.
  • Reading the room Walk in, look from face to face, lower your voice.
  • Recognizing an old friend Squint, lean in, then throw your arms open.
  • Rehearsing in your head Mouth the words, do small gestures, nod.
  • Remembering a name Snap your fingers, point, stall, snap again.
  • Saving face Trip, turn it into a dance step, bow.
  • Second-guessing yourself Write an answer, erase it, write the same answer.
  • Spotting a typo Read along, stop dead, jab at one letter.
  • Stalling for time Tie a shoe, retie it, check the other shoe.
  • Swallowing your pride Puff up, deflate, gulp, hold out a hand.
  • Taking a hint Get nudged three times, then finally stand up and go.
  • Taking the blame Step forward, hand up, while someone tiptoes away.
  • Thinking on your feet Get a surprise, hop from foot to foot, snap an answer.
  • Trusting your instincts Look at the map, fold it up, point and walk.
  • Turning a blind eye See it, cover one eye, stroll past.
  • Waiting for a reply Send, stare at the phone, put it down, grab it again.
  • Weighing your options One hand up, the other down, swap, swap back.
  • Zoning out Eyes glaze, head tips, a hand waves in front of you.

Jobs with no obvious gesture 24

  • Archivist Lift a fragile page from a box with both hands.
  • Art restorer Dab with a tiny swab and lean back to look.
  • Auditor Go through someone's papers with a magnifying glass and a frown.
  • Casting director Watch one after another, shake your head, then point.
  • Census taker Knock, count heads in the doorway, tick a box.
  • Court reporter Type every word without looking up.
  • Customs officer Open a suitcase and lift things out with two fingers.
  • Diplomat Shake hands between two sides that will not look at each other.
  • Editor Read, cross out, swap two words, read again.
  • Harbor pilot Climb aboard, take the wheel, ease a big ship in.
  • Interpreter Stand between two people and speak to each in turn.
  • Land surveyor Peer through a scope on a tripod and wave someone left.
  • Museum curator Straighten a frame in white gloves and step back.
  • Mystery shopper Shop normally, then scribble notes behind a shelf.
  • Notary Watch a signature, then stamp it firmly.
  • Proofreader Follow each line with a ruler and pounce on one letter.
  • Quality inspector Pick items off a moving belt, check each, put one aside.
  • Set designer Carry in a fake tree and slide a painted wall across.
  • Sound engineer Headphones on, slide one fader up and another down.
  • Stage manager Whisper into a headset and wave actors on from the side.
  • Statistician Draw a curve in the air and mark its middle.
  • Subtitle writer Watch a screen, pause it, type one line underneath.
  • Tea taster Slurp from a spoon down a long row of cups.
  • Urban planner Place small blocks on a table and move a road.

Idioms and sayings 30

  • A chip on your shoulder Balance something small on one shoulder and dare people.
  • A leap of faith Cover your eyes and step off the edge.
  • Bending over backwards Lean back further and further to hand something over.
  • Biting the hand that feeds you Take the food, then snap at the fingers.
  • Burying your head in the sand Kneel, tuck your head down, and ignore the tapping on your back.
  • Carrying the weight of the world Hoist a huge globe onto your shoulders and stagger.
  • Casting a wide net Swing a net in a big circle and haul in everything.
  • Clearing the air Wave away a cloud between two people, then shake hands.
  • Clutching at straws Grab at thin things in the air as you sink.
  • Drawing a line in the sand Drag a toe across the ground and fold your arms.
  • Going against the grain Push the opposite way through a crowd, all walking past you.
  • Hanging by a thread Dangle, look up at one thin string, do not move.
  • In hot water Step in, hop from foot to foot, fan yourself.
  • Leaving no stone unturned Lift rock after rock and look under each.
  • Making a mountain out of a molehill Trip on a tiny bump, then start climbing it with ropes.
  • Moving heaven and earth Push the sky up with one hand and the ground down with the other.
  • Not seeing the forest for the trees Peer closely at one trunk with a whole wood behind you.
  • Picking up the pieces Kneel among the bits and fit two together.
  • The pot calling the kettle black One pot points at another and tuts.
  • Pulling out all the stops Yank knob after knob on a great organ and play with both arms.
  • Putting the cart before the horse Hitch up, then notice the horse is behind you.
  • Running out of steam Chug along, slower, slower, stop with a hiss.
  • Splitting hairs Hold up one hair and saw it carefully in half.
  • Sweeping it under the rug Lift a corner, sweep, drop it, whistle.
  • Taking the bull by the horns Grab two horns and hold on.
  • Throwing caution to the wind Take off the helmet, toss it, and go.
  • Turning the tables Spin a table around and swap seats.
  • Tying up loose ends Find dangling strings and knot them one by one.
  • Upsetting the apple cart Bump a cart and chase apples in every direction.
  • Weathering the storm Lean into the wind, hold your hat, come out the other side.

Words to act in two halves 21

  • Afterthought Tap a watch, then tap your temple.
  • Daybreak Draw the sun rising, then snap a stick.
  • Earshot Cup an ear, then throw a basketball.
  • Figurehead Draw a number in the air, then pat your head.
  • Foolproof Juggle in a jester's hat, then hold up a badge.
  • Foothold Wiggle a foot, then grip tight.
  • Gatekeeper Swing a gate open, then hug something close.
  • Handlebar Wave a hand, then lift weights.
  • Heirloom Flick your hair, then weave on a loom.
  • Lifeline Feel for a pulse, then draw a straight line.
  • Limelight Squeeze a sour fruit, then switch on a lamp.
  • Mastermind Bow to a master, then tap your temple.
  • Newscast Read from a desk, then throw out a fishing line.
  • Pigeonhole Strut and coo, then dig.
  • Pitfall Dig a hole, then drop to the floor.
  • Rainmaker Wiggle your fingers down, then hammer and build.
  • Ringleader Put on a ring, then march at the front.
  • Showdown Open a curtain with a flourish, then point at the floor.
  • Sleepwalk Rest your head on your hands, then stride.
  • Standstill Stand up, then freeze.
  • Touchstone Tap something with one finger, then lift a heavy rock.

Science and nature 16

  • A compass finding north Spin an arm, wobble, settle on one direction.
  • A lunar eclipse One fist passes slowly between a lamp and the other fist.
  • A mirage Crawl toward water, reach it, scoop up sand.
  • A plant turning toward the light Lean slowly after a lamp as it moves.
  • A rainbow forming Rain with one hand, sun with the other, then a slow arc.
  • A seed sprouting Curl up small, push one finger up, unfold to the light.
  • A sonic boom Streak past, then clap once, late and loud.
  • A volcano waking up Rumble, puff a little smoke, then burst upward.
  • Continents drifting apart Two hands fit like a puzzle, then slide slowly away.
  • Roots finding water Fingers creep down and sideways, then drink.
  • The speed of sound Bang a drum far away; the guesser flinches a beat later.
  • Surface tension Set a needle gently on water and watch it sit there.
  • Tree rings Hug a trunk, then count circles outward with a finger.
  • The water cycle Rise as steam, gather as a cloud, fall as rain, flow away.
  • Water turning to ice Flow freely, slow down, stiffen, stop solid.
  • Zero gravity Float, turn slowly, chase a drifting pen.

Time and amounts 16

  • A dozen Count past ten on your fingers and close an egg box.
  • A long time ago Wave a hand back over your shoulder, again and again.
  • A moment of silence Bow your head and hold very still.
  • A quarter past One arm straight up, the other straight out to the side.
  • A rough estimate Squint, hold your hands about so far apart, wobble them.
  • A split second Snap your fingers, then show half of that.
  • Ahead of schedule Finish, look at the clock, put your feet up.
  • The day after tomorrow Point at today, hop forward once, hop again.
  • The first of the month Tear off a calendar page and hold up one finger.
  • Halfway there Run half a lap, stop, and look both ways.
  • Just in time Slide under a closing door and dust yourself off.
  • Overnight The sun goes down, you sleep, the sun comes up.
  • Running on the spot for an hour Jog, check a watch, jog, check again, sag.
  • Ten seconds to go Count down on your fingers with growing panic.
  • Twice as much Show an amount, then show it again beside the first.
  • The week before last Flip back one calendar page, then one more.

Two things at once 20

  • A pit stop tire change Four quick wheels, arms up, wave the car away.
  • Blowing glass Turn a long pipe, puff, and shape a glowing bubble.
  • Carrying a ladder through a revolving door Go in, get stuck, come back out the same side.
  • Carving an ice sculpture as it melts Chisel fast and keep mopping the drips.
  • Catching a train with three suitcases Drag, carry and kick them along the platform.
  • Conducting a choir of toddlers Raise the baton, shush one side, wave back the other.
  • Herding sheep with a whistle Whistle left, whistle right, close the gate behind them.
  • Icing a cake on a moving train Pipe a careful line through every bump.
  • Landing a plane in fog Peer ahead, lower gently, feel for the ground.
  • Photographing a hummingbird Raise the camera, it darts away, turn, it darts again.
  • Playing chess against yourself Move, walk around the table, frown at your own move.
  • Reading a map in a high wind Unfold it, lose a corner, get wrapped in it.
  • Rowing a boat with one oar Pull hard and turn in slow circles.
  • Sneaking a sleeping cat off your lap Lift one paw at a time without breathing.
  • Teaching a parrot one word Say it slowly, wait, get a whistle back.
  • Threading a needle on a moving bus Sway, aim the thread, miss, sway, aim again.
  • Untangling a kite string in the wind Pick at a knot while the kite pulls you along.
  • Walking a tightrope while juggling Eyes up, arms busy, one careful foot after the other.
  • Wallpapering around a light switch Smooth the strip down, find the bump, cut a neat square.
  • Wrapping a bicycle as a gift Wind paper around the wheels and fight the handlebars.
How this list was compiled

Written by the Game Night Generator editors for this page on 2026-09-30: 181 words, sayings and small scenes that are hard to act because there is no obvious gesture for them. Every card is marked Hard; that is an editor's judgment. The deck keeps to the site's family-safe rule: nothing sexual, no alcohol or drugs, nothing about bodies, no real people, no brand names and no film, show, book or song titles. The line under each card is the editors' acting hint, not a rule. The cards were compared with every other list on this site on 2026-09-30, with a leading a, an or the dropped: no card has the same text as a card in another list. Five sayings (Keeping a straight face, Turning a blind eye, Taking the bull by the horns, Throwing caution to the wind and Upsetting the apple cart) are also answers in the emoji charades puzzle, in another form of the verb. Licence: own work